Nitrocellulose explosive and process of making the same



Patented Mar. 15,1932

ARTHUR S. ONEIL AND ALFONS G. SCHURICHT, 0F ALTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS TO WESTERN CARTRIDGE COMPANY, OF EAST ALTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF Dmwm mraocm:.nur.0sn nxrnosm AND raocsss on mine was sam No Drawing. Original application filed March 12, 1925, Serial No. 15,120. Divided and this application filed October 28, 1926. Serial No. 144,915.

This invention relates to explosives and more particularly to explosives employing a tetra-nitro-anilin. This application 1s a division of application Serial Number 15,120, filed March 12, 1925.

After the conclusion of the World War there was and is now on hand large quantities of smokeless powder; this powder in its available form has practically no peace time utility and has, therefore, a low commercial value. It is in the form of a dense colloided nitro-cellulose and usually is coated or impregnated with a deterrent to render it progressive burning.

One of the objects of this invention, there- (flore, is to sensitize such a nitro-cellulose pow- Another object is to provide an explosive grain, and -more particularly one of nitrocellulose, which is coated or impregnated with tetra-nitro-anilin.

Further objects will appear from the detail description in which an illustrative embodiment will be described; it is, however, to

be understood that the invention is suscep-- tible of various otherembodiments.

In accordance with this invention a small percentage of a tetra-nitro-anilin is intimately mixed with a larger percentage of a less sensitive or cheaper nitro-hydrocarbon, and this is preferably accomplished by dissolving the brisant 'tetra-nitro-anilin in the less sensitive component. Suitable solvents of tetra-nitro-anil'm adapted for this purpose are aromatic nitro-compounds, of which trinitro toluene, di-nitro toluene, tri nitrohenzene, di-nitro-benzene, etc., as well as pieric acid are examples. Furthermore mixtures of nitro-' hydrocarbons may be used; these mixtures are of special advantage whenthe nitro-hydrocarbons have high melting points,

.for by using mixtures of such compounds in. molecular proportions the melting points are depressed. Suitable mixtu'res, in molecular proportions, are: tri-nitro-toluene and tri nitro-benzene, tri-nitro-toluene and di-nitrobenzene, tri-mtro-toluene and picric acid, etc.

. Whether a single 'nitro-hydrocarbon or mixtures of nitro-hydrocarbons are used, the

tetramitro-anilin is dissolved in the molten solvent. This can be accomplished by heating the tetra-nitro-anilin and the less sensitive nitro-hydrocarbon, in the desired proportions, in a suitable container until the solution of the tetra-nitro-anilin in the nitrohydrocarbon is complete; solution takes place at a temperature from 85 C.86 C.

In accordance with this invention, such a solution is employed for surface treating, i. e., coating or impregnating smokeless powder, such as dense colloided nitro-cellulose, either coated or uncoated. Thus a solution of 2% 15% of tetra-nitro-anilin in tri-nitro-toluene, di-nitro-toluene, tri-nitro-benzene or di-nitro-benzene may be employed and ap lied in the ordinary manner, namely by rumb ing the solution with the powder in t e presence of heat, at a sufiicient temperature and for a sufiicient period, to cause such coating or imwhich is coated or impregnated with tetranitro-anilin, and more particularly a nitrocellulose'grain coated or impregneated with a tetra-nitro-anilin dissolved in a less sensitive nitro-hydirocarbon vehicle. The powder grain so produced are more sensitive to ignition so, as toenable them to be practically em ployed as the propellentcharges of 'shot shells, although they are susceptible of general use as a proppllent or an explosive;

It is o vious that various changes may be made in details without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this inventionis not to be limited to the details described.

' Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:I

There is thus produced an explosive grain 1. An explosive nitro-cellulose gra.in sur nitro -eompound at the melting point of the' 10 solution.

In testimony whereof we have this 13th day of October, 1926 aflixed our signatures.

. ARTHUR. S. ONEIL.

ALFQNS G. SCHURICHT.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. l, 849, 356. Granted March 15, 1932, to

ARTHURYS. O'NEIL in AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 1 and 2, claim 1, for the compound word "surface-coated" read surface-treated; same page, after line 2, insert the following as claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively- 2. An explosive nitro-cellulosc grain surface-treated with a tetranitro-anilin desolved in a vehicle.

3. An explosive nitro-cellulose grain surface-treated with a tetranitro-anilin desolved in a nitro-toluene.

4. An explosive nitro-cellnlose grain surface-treated with a small percentage of a tetra-nitro-anilin dissolved in a large percentage of an aromatic nitro-compound. V

5. The process of sensitizing nitro-cellnlose grains comprising, heating the grains in the presence of a tetra-nitro-anilin at the melt ing point thereof. I

6. The process of sensitizing nitro-cellulose grains comprising, heating the grains in the presence of a tetra-nitro-anilin and a less sensitive vehicle at the melting point thereof- 7. The process of sensitizing nitro-cellulose grains n treating the grains with a tetra-nitro-anilin at a temperature and for a period sufficient to surface-treat the grains.

8. The process of sensitizing nitro-cellulose grains, comprising, treating the grains with a tetra-nitro-anilin and a less sensitive vehicle at a temperature and for a period sufficient to surface-treat the grains. i

Lines 3 and 6, for the claim numerals 2 and 3, read 9 and 10 respectively; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may,coniorm to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and seal ed this 14th day of June; A. D. 1932.

M. Moore, (Seal) I Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

